Replication: The Jason Experiment

Martyrotherwise known as Jason 3:3is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to “expire” in less than a month. To see the sky.

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Overview

When Your Life Is Not Your Own

Martyrotherwise known as Jason 3:3is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to “expire” in less than a month. To see the sky.

Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars.

As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futuresthe one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he’s ever known.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Christy winner Williamson (By Darkness Hid) disappoints in her newest outing in the small yet vital subcategory of Christian speculative fiction. Abby Goyer’s father is a new employee of Jason Farms, located at a remote Alaskan site, and 17-year-old Abby is the new kid at Fishhook High, fending off the unwanted attentions of star quarterback J.D. Kane. J.D. bears a confusing and eerie resemblance to Martyr, a boy whom Abby meets after he escapes from Jason Farms, hoping to see the sky before he is scheduled to expire. The dystopian premise of human engineering is familiar (Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2005 novel, Never Let Me Go, made into a haunting film, is a recent iteration); in Williamson’s hands, its interpretation becomes overladen with Christian meaning. “Martyr” is one elbow to the ribs clue, a youth pastor is a second-tier hero in the action, and Martyr is immediately drawn to the Bible as a book to read. As a naïve archetype, Martyr is inconsistent; he knows some things from contemporary human culture but not others. Evangelical Christians may like it, but it won’t work outside that audience. Ages 13–up. Agent: Amanda Luedeke. (Jan.)¦

VOYA - Diane Colson

Martyr (aka J:3:3) has spent all of his life in a colorless, underground facility in Fishhook, Alaska, populated by dozens of "Jasons" like himself. These boys know that their lives will end when they turn eighteen, the date of their expiration. Martyr is only weeks from his expiration date, but he does not complain because he understands that his life's purpose is to make this sacrifice for the people who live above. On the other side of the continent, seventeen year-old Abby has just arrived home from a trip with her youth group. But when she opens the door to the apartment she shares with her scientist father, Abby discovers that it is completely empty. News flash: Abby's father has taken a new job and they are moving to Alaska. Immediately. It is not long before Martyr's life intersects with Abby. When the horror of the Jasons's existence is revealed, Abby and Martyr team up to rescue the boys. While this is an intriguing (albeit familiar) plot, the execution is clunky, with too many incredible events to be explained away with divine intervention. From the moment Abby stands in her empty apartment, realizing that her dad has moved them without telling her, to the tidy happy ending (no spoilers here), the reader is led through fantastical chance encounters, daring escapes, and fluctuating character depictions that are more confusing than spellbinding. Nevertheless, teens who enjoy fast-paced books with Christian overtones, a la Ted Dekker, may be eager to take on this wild ride of a story. Reviewer: Diane Colson

Kirkus Reviews

An imaginative science-fiction premise and a well-drawn, affecting character struggle to overcome heavy-handed religious proselytizing in this uneven suspense tale. A mad, unethical scientist, assisted by sane, unethical scientists, runs a secret underground facility that experiments on boys who are clones of the mad scientist. The boys face death at age 18, believing that they will be fulfilling their "purpose" of saving mankind. The aptly named Martyr would like to see the sky before he dies. When the scientists refuse his last wish, Martyr escapes, eventually teaming up with Abby, the daughter of one of the scientists, to fight the evil Dr. Kane (read "Cain"). Abby, as a committed Christian, tries to save, both religiously and literally, her new friend. In Martyr, Williamson creates a standout character. His complete innocence, perfect sincerity and humorous misunderstandings of the modern world easily endear him to readers. Far less successful, the one-dimensional Abby blends in with standard-issue young heroine types. The author pushes her political views into the story, describing one highly stereotypical character as a "liberal extremist" when he supports embryonic stem-cell research. This complements her portrayal of the scientists, who apparently don't view the matured clones as truly human. Suspense scenes become difficult to follow as she frequently jumps from one scene to another. However, Martyr's final action gives readers an uplifting and important lesson. For committed conservative Christian audiences. (Christian science fiction. 12 & up)

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Read an Excerpt

Replication

Zondervan

Chapter One

Martyr stared at the equation on the whiteboard and set his pencil down. He didn't feel like practicing math today. What did math matter when his expiration date was so near?

His wrist still throbbed from Fido's teeth. Martyr touched the strip of fabric he'd ripped from his bedsheet and tied around his wrist to stop the bleeding. He hoped the wound would heal before a doctor noticed it. A trip upstairs to mend it would be unpleasant, as the doctor would likely use the opportunity to perform tests. Martyr shuddered.

To distract himself, he glanced at the other boys. Every Jason in the classroom except Speedy and Hummer scribbled down the numbers from the whiteboard. Speedy sketched Dr. Max's profile, staring at the doctor with intense concentration. His hand darted over the paper, shading the dark face with a short, black beard.

Hummer—as always—hummed and rocked back and forth, hugging himself. Martyr never understood why the doctors made Hummer take classes instead of putting him in with the brokens. Perhaps it had to do with Hummer's being so much older than the other brokens, or the fact that he could walk and didn't need special medications.

Movement at the back of the room caught Martyr's attention, and he twisted around to get a better look. Dr. Kane stood outside the locked door, looking in through the square window. A stranger wearing glasses stood beside him, much shorter and a little rounder than Dr. Kane. The man's head was also shaven like Martyr's, but the way he carried himself next to Dr. Kane showed he was nothing like a clone. Martyr's pulse increased. There hadn't been a new doctor on the Farm in a long time.

Dr. Kane opened the door, and both men stepped inside. Martyr gasped. The new doctor wore color! A narrow strip of fabric ran from his neck to his waist. Martyr jumped up from his desk and headed for the stranger.

Yes, but one mark was not so bad. Martyr quickened his pace. If I could just touch the strip once ...

Dr. Kane shooed the new doctor back into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind him. Desperate, and knowing the door would lock once it closed all the way, Martyr stepped into the shrinking exit. The door slammed against his bare foot, and a sharp pain shot through his ankle. He winced and wedged his torso into the crack.

He was met by Dr. Kane's hand pressing against his chest. "J:3:3, return to your seat this instant. Two marks."

But the color on the new doctor was too tempting.

Something indescribable stirred inside Martyr. "He has color, Dr. Kane." He tried to remember the word—like carrots, like the caps on the doctors' needles, like the slide. "It's orange!"

Martyr pushed the rest of his body through the doorway, and Dr. Kane moved with him, keeping his imposing form between Martyr and the new doctor—the same way Martyr did when a Jason picked on Baby or another broken.

Chair legs scraped against the floor, and the Section Five math class rushed from their seats. With a quick glance that seemed to hint more marks were coming, Dr. Kane reached around Martyr and yanked the door shut before any other Jason could escape, leaving Martyr in the hall with the doctors.

Identical faces filled the square window, but Martyr could barely hear the Jasons inside. The silence in the hallway seemed to heighten the severity of Martyr's actions. He glanced from Dr. Kane's stern expression to the new doctor, to the strip of orange color.

The man stepped back, face pale, eyes wide and slightly magnified through his thick glasses. He clutched the orange fabric with both hands as if trying to hide it. "Wh-What does he want?"

Dr. Kane rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "It's my fault, Dr. Goyer. It's been so long since I hired someone. Years ago we stopped allowing any adornments below level one. They were a danger to the doctor wearing them. Plus, the boys don't encounter much color down here. It causes problems, as you can see." Dr. Kane turned to Martyr with a tight smile. "J:3:3 is harmless, though."

Dr. Kane's casual tone emboldened Martyr to carry out his plan. He reached out for the orange color, exhaling a shaky breath when the doctor allowed him to touch the fabric. It was smooth, softer than his clothes or his sheets or the towels in the shower room. A napkin, perhaps? Maybe it hung there so the doctor could wipe his mouth after eating. "What's it for?"

The new doctor tugged the orange fabric from Martyr's grip. "It's a tie."

"Enough questions, J:3:3," Dr. Kane said.

Martyr cocked his head to the side. "A napkin tie?"

"Three marks, J:3:3. Back against the wall, or it'll be four," Dr. Kane's deep voice warned.

Martyr inched back and glanced down the hallway. Rolo jogged toward them, clutching his stick at his side, his large body bouncing with every step. Johnson, the other day guard, loped along behind.

Martyr fell to the ground and immediately wrapped himself into a ball, covering his head with his arms. His curiosity had gotten him in trouble again. Three marks meant three hours of lab time. All to touch the orange napkin tie.

It had been worth it.

"What's he doing?" the man named Dr. Goyer asked.

Rolo and Johnson's footsteps on the concrete floor drowned out Dr. Kane's answer.

Rolo stopped poking long enough to whack Martyr on the head, sending a throbbing ache through his skull. "Get up, boy."

Martyr complied as best he could with the stick still poking his side. He hoped the stinger wouldn't engage.

Rolo grabbed Martyr's other arm, and Martyr bit back a groan as the guards dragged him up and pushed him against the wall.

Rolo slid his stick under Martyr's chin and pressed up, forcing Martyr to look at him. "See, now? We're not so awful, are we?" Rolo's eyes were clear and cold. Martyr knew it was best to nod.

Johnson smirked at Martyr over Rolo's shoulder. Johnson had thick brown hair, a bushy brown beard, and a mustache. The boys were not allowed beards or mustaches or hair. They visited the groomers once a week to be shaved—to keep from looking like Johnson.

"These are our day guards," Dr. Kane said. "Robert Lohan, known as Rolo to the boys, and Dale Johnson. Men, this is Dr. Goyer. He'll be starting next week."

"We use tasers if things get too far." Johnson bent down and snagged up Martyr's pant leg, revealing the stinger ring on his ankle. "They're remote controlled, and each has its own code. Lee, up in surveillance can turn each one on manually or in a group. If the boys gang up on us and manage to swipe our weapons, the tasers knock 'em flat in a hurry."

Dr. Kane put his hand on Martyr's shoulder and squeezed. "But J:3:3 doesn't cause those kinds of problems. He sometimes gets a little excited, that's all. Take him up to Dr. Goyer's office, Robert." He turned to Dr. Goyer. "This will give you a chance to try our marks procedure and get to know one of our subjects."

Martyr eyed Dr. Goyer. Would the new doctor be angry that he had touched the orange napkin tie? Would the marks be miserably painful?

"What do I do with him?" Dr. Goyer asked.

The guards pushed Martyr toward the elevator, and he struggled to look over his shoulder at the new doctor.

Dr. Kane's answer made Martyr shiver. "Whatever you want."

Martyr lay strapped to the exam table in Dr. Goyer's office, which he'd discovered was the third door on the right. He twisted his head to the side and squinted. The lab-like office rooms were always so bright. The lights buzzed overhead and the smell of clean made him sick to his stomach, reminding him of the hundreds of times he had lain on a table in such a room while a doctor poked and prodded. All the labs looked the same: a desk for the doctor, an exam table, and a long counter stretching along one wall with cupboards above and below. It had been five years since Martyr had been in this particular lab, though. He would never forget the last time.

The third door on the right had belonged to her. To Dr. Woman.

Many years had passed since the incident. Martyr was certain Dr. Kane would never allow another woman to enter the Farm because of what had happened, and the thought made him feel lonely. Dr. Woman had been kinder than any other doctor.

But it had gone bad.

Martyr blamed himself.

The door opened and Dr. Goyer entered. The light glinted off the man's head as he looked down at a chart, and Martyr wondered why this doctor had to see the groomers when the other doctors were allowed to grow hair.

Dr. Goyer jumped back a step when he saw Martyr on the table and put a hand to his chest, but then moved about the lab as if he hadn't seen Martyr at all. Martyr waited and watched Dr. Goyer file some papers, wipe down his counter, and sit at his desk. He was no longer wearing the orange napkin tie, only a white coat over a white shirt and black pants. Martyr frowned. Dr. Goyer would probably never wear the orange napkin tie again.

He hoped Dr. Goyer wouldn't use pain today. Occasionally he got lucky with his marks and only needed to answer questions or try new foods. Dr. Goyer hadn't carried in a steamy sack full of food, though.

Dr. Goyer suddenly spoke. "What am I supposed to do with you?"

Martyr met the doctor's eyes. They were brown, like the eyes of every Jason on the Farm. Martyr knew the color brown well. "What do you want to do?"

The doctor rubbed a hand over his head. "I don't know ... I don't know. They gave me a list of starter questions, but you've probably had all those by now."

Martyr had answered them often. "What's your number? Do you have a nickname? What's your purpose?"

Dr. Goyer smiled. "That's right. Can we just ... talk?"

Martyr relaxed. Talking would likely be painless. "Yes, we can."

"Do you like living here?"

The question confused Martyr. Where else would he live? "What do you mean?"

"Do you enjoy it? Do you find it fun?"

"Some days."

"What makes a good day?"

"No marks. No fights. Food with color. Being with Baby. Especially a day where no one is trying to hurt Baby."

"Is Baby your friend?"

Martyr nodded. "He needs me."

"Why?"

"Baby is a Broken, so a lot of Jasons pick on him."

"Broken."

"Yeah, you know. Something went wrong when he was made. He's small and doesn't speak. The doctors think he's ignorant and can't learn, but they just don't know his language. He talks with his hands, so I'm the only one who understands him."

"Why did the guard call you Martyr?"

"It's my nickname. I got it because I help Baby and the other brokens."

Dr. Goyer paused for a second. "Tell me about a time you helped one of them."

Dealing with bullies wasn't Martyr's favorite thing to talk about, but it was better than being poked with needles. He didn't want the doctor to change his mind, so Martyr answered quickly. "A few days ago, Iron Man and Fido attacked Baby, and I called Johnson to stop them. Fido found me later and was angry."

"What happened?"

Martyr saw no harm in pointing out the wound since he was already in a lab. He jerked his head to the strip of bedsheet tied around his wrist. "Rolo was close by, so Fido only bit me."

"Fido is a dog's name." Martyr knew this because Rolo said it almost every time he spoke to Fido. "Rolo says that Fido acts like a dog."

"Have you ever seen a dog?" Dr. Goyer released the strap holding Martyr's wrist to the table, loosened the sheet, and inspected the bite marks. Then he went to his counter and opened a cupboard.

"Only pictures we're shown in class. Have you seen a real one?" Martyr had heard dogs were small and hairy and drooled a lot. Sometimes Hummer drooled, but no one called him a dog. Baby drooled a lot when he cried, but no one called him a dog either. Apparently Fido's dog-ness was due to something else, because he certainly wasn't small or hairy.

Dr. Goyer closed the cupboard. "I've seen lots of dogs."

Martyr's eyes flickered around the lab while he waited. A thick, black coat was draped over the back of Dr. Goyer's chair. "You can go outside?"

"Of course." Dr. Goyer stepped back to Martyr's side and rubbed cool alcohol on his wrist.

It stung and Martyr stiffened. "You take the antidote?"

Dr. Goyer paused and looked away. His throat bobbed. "I, um ... yes."

Martyr blew out a long breath. He couldn't even imagine what it must be like in the outside world. "I know I'll never see things like dogs, but someone has to stay underground so people and dogs can exist." Sometimes, the knowledge of his purpose was the only thing that made the Farm bearable. "You took off your napkin tie. Will you wear it again?"

"It's a necktie, not a napkin tie, and I'm not allowed to wear it. I'm sorry I broke the rules today. It was a mistake."

"I'm glad you did. Orange is very rare on the Farm. So is red. Red is my favorite. Where did you get the ... necktie?"

Dr. Goyer peeled a bandage and stuck it to Martyr's wrist. "My daughter gave it to me for Christmas."

A tingle traveled down Martyr's arms. Daughter was woman. He lifted his head off the table. "You have a woman?"

Dr. Goyer reached into his back pocket. He unfolded black fabric and showed Martyr a colored picture. The doctors sometimes showed them pictures, but never in color. Martyr had never seen so many colors in one place. He stared at the face and exhaled a long breath. The daughter had orange hair! And it was long, past her shoulders, and very curly, like spiral pasta. His eyes were the color of peas.

"He is very colorful." Martyr's eyes did not leave the picture when he asked, "What are the colors of peas?"

"Green."

Martyr stared at the daughter's eyes. "His eyes are green."

"Her eyes."

Martyr glanced at Dr. Goyer. "Her?"

"Women's belongings are hers instead of his. They're called she instead of he. Personal pronouns are gender specific."

Goose pimples broke out over Martyr's arms. This was why Dr. Woman had been called Her. Martyr wished he could remember more about Dr. Woman, but it had been so long ago, and he had been so young. "I would like to see a woman."

Dr. Goyer's eyebrows crinkled together again. He put the picture back into the black fabric and tucked it into his pocket.

"What's that you keep the picture in?"

"A wallet. It holds my money and credit cards, my driver's license."

Martyr shook his head slightly, confused by the strange terms. None of the other doctors ever showed him things like this. He wished he could see the picture again—wished he had his own picture—but Dr. Goyer had seemed upset when he put his wallet back into his pocket. Martyr hoped Dr. Goyer wouldn't stop showing him fascinating things in the future.

As the silence stretched on, Martyr tried to think of something to say so Dr. Goyer wouldn't get bored and decide to use needles. "What is Christmas?"

Dr. Goyer leaned against the wall by the door and folded his arms. "It's a holiday. You don't celebrate Christmas here?"

"What's celebrate?"

"Celebrate is ... being happy together." Dr. Goyer straightened and looked into Martyr's eyes. "What do the other doctors do when you have marks?"

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'The mesmerizing depth of character Williamson's readers have come to expect is woven deftly into Replication, with extra layers of gripping suspense and twisting mystery. I did not intend to stay up reading this book until the early morning hours, but that was the result.'

J.R. Parker Author of Kestrel's Midnight Song -- J.R. Parker, Author

Meet the Author

Jill Williamson is a novelist, dreamer, and believer. Growing up in Alaska led to love books, and in 2010 her first novel, By Darkness Hid, won the Christy Award. She loves working with teenagers and gives writing workshops at libraries, schools, camps, and churches. Jill lives in Oregon with her husband and two children. Visit Jill online at www.jillwilliamson.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Replication: The Jason Experiment 4.4 out of 5based on
0 ratings.
26 reviews.

MamaMentor

More than 1 year ago

Replication is a fast, absorbing read. It poses the question, &ldquo;What if unscrupulous scientists have already been secretly cloning human beings to be used as organ donors and drug testers?&rdquo;
The two main characters are Jason 3:3 or &ldquo;Martyr,&rdquo; one of the 56 clones, and Abby Goyer, whose widowed father has just been hired by the secret clone lab. They meet when Martyr escapes the underground lab/habitat a couple of days before his planned &ldquo;expiration&rdquo; because he wants to see the sky.
Martyr (later shortened to Marty) is a smart, caring kid who has been sheltered from just about everything during his years in the underground clone habitat. He is na&iuml;ve and pure and trusting. He finds himself thrust into a world he knows nothing about, while on the run for his life. Abby tries to help him while keeping it a secret from her father and trying to evade Marty&rsquo;s lookalike, JD Kane, who pursues her relentlessly at school.
Marty&rsquo;s predicament causes several characters to examine their own moral choices and it also challenges and deepens Abby&rsquo;s faith. Both main characters are likeable, but Marty&rsquo;s trusting simplicity won me over. The pace of the story is fast and the suspense almost continuous, with a few little comic relief moments. There is ongoing tension between Abby and her father, who has taken a job that he knows is unethical, but seems too spineless to do anything about it.
There was one thing about the story that bothered me a lot. There is no explanation given for how Dr. Kane managed to build a huge underground lab complex without anyone in the nearby small town catching on. My logical mind tells me that a construction project that size would be the talk of the town&mdash;but no one knows anything about it. If you are willing to suspend disbelief on that one issue, the book is a great read.

Read_A_Book

More than 1 year ago

This is Christian fiction, so those strongly opposed to religious novels may want to stay clear of this story. However, it&rsquo;s a really interesting premise with some great morals and, even though I really hate preachy novels, I thought this was a good read overall. While it&rsquo;s true that the religious aspect does come on quite strong in some parts, including the quoting and deciphering of scripture, in retrospect, it flows rather nicely with the story as Martyr, a clone set to expire, has never thought of a Creator at all. In every society, there is some type of higher being that is worshipped, and if not worshipped, the people of the society at least have heard of a higher being, but Martyr has never thought about it, nor has anyone ever brought it up to him. Thus, watching Martyr&rsquo;s reaction to Abby&rsquo;s assertion that Martyr does indeed have a higher purpose in life and that God loves him was actually really interesting. Of course, like a toddler, Martyr latches on to anything new&mdash;he&rsquo;s never had a chance to see or experience anything outside the farm, and so it&rsquo;s debatable as to whether or not Martyr really believes or is just in awe of this newfound Being, but that&rsquo;s a debate for another time. Regardless, this novel tackles some very interesting topics that YA doesn&rsquo;t usually pursue, making it entirely unique in its own right.
Religion aside, though, Williamson does a great job fleshing out her characters and her storyline. I loved that Abby is a very strong female lead, a Christian, and yet a flawed individual. Williamson does not make her out to be &ldquo;holier than thou,&rdquo; and Abby succumbs to the same temptations, thoughts, and actions that the rest of us do, which, ultimately, makes her human as a very likable character. Martyr, of course, is very interesting in his own right, taking care of others and ultimately becoming a leader for his brethren, all who look like him and were cloned of the same doctor in order to find cures for diseases, including the doctor&rsquo;s own disease, Lupus. J.D. was not my favorite, but he was incredibly real. As a teacher of high school, I see students like him all the time, and the fact that all these characters emulate real behaviors made them all the more real to me. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to those not opposed to a little overbearing religious talk here and there.

reader1294

More than 1 year ago

This book is AMAZING! I was already a huge Jill Williamson fan from her previous books (¿The Blood of Kings Trilogy¿, which I also highly recommend) and I simply could NOT wait to get my hands on this book! It does not disappoint.
When Abby Goyer's father is hired as a scientist at a highly secretive lab, her curiosity kicks into high gear and she goes sleuthing. Abby discovers (with the help of Martyr, a bald, seventeen year old boy whom Abby found in her bedroom and seems to know nothing of the world) that the head scientist of this lab has successfully created functional clones for an evil purpose. She knows she needs to do something, but what? As more and more comes into the light, both Abby and Martyr know that it won't be long until it all explodes and the world changes forever.
This book is a clean fiction novel for teens, but anyone of any age could read this and truly enjoy it. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Laura_Pol

More than 1 year ago

I absolutely loved Replication!
It was really weird in the beginning and I was unsure how I would like the overall book, but it was filled with such a wonderful message that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Seeing Martyr come from Jason Farms and having never seen the upper world it was amazing to see how entranced he was with everything. It really humbled me to change my perspective of the world because God created all these wonderful colors for us, but yet some days we hardly notice it. We don't fully appreciate it like Martyr did, but after reading this I want that to change!
The book really challenged me in being grateful for all the beautiful things that surround us as well as the uniqueness that each person has! Also the book challenged me in that not only has God given me a purpose that He has revealed to me, but He can reveal everyone's purpose through His Word (Martyr gives a fine example of this at the end)! I was so amazed at how Martyr took God's Word straight to his heart and applied it with Dr. Kane! I was brought to shame like Abby was concerning that we can know all the Scriptures, but yet forget to apply them to our life.
One of the funniest parts about this book is the innocent questions that Martyr has concerning marriage, pregnancy, and love in general! It was so cute to see the way he approached Abby and the youth pastor about love! The ending was definitely perfect and made me smile!
Overall I was really surprised how I liked this novel! Jill did such a wonderful job with this story and gave such a powerful underlining message of appreciating God's creation around us! Not only that but she was so awesome in flat out preaching the message of Christ and how we get saved!
Well done Jill!

Bookishqueen

More than 1 year ago

This book was great. I could not stop thinking about the characters throughout the day when I was not reading. Just the lives these people live is mind boggling. This book could certainly be enjoyed by people of all ages. It made me laugh and got my adrenaline pumping. It also tore at my heart with what Martyr goes through. I just wish it was part of a series.
The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is because their are a few minor holes in the science and reasoning of the scientists. Still, they did not take from the story, simply made me aware that this was not real.

Kerry_Nietz

More than 1 year ago

So, what happens when an author noted for her fantasy novels attempts to cross into the realm of science fiction?
In the case of &ldquo;Replication,&rdquo; what happens is a fairly solid story. I thought the premise was great, and different enough from other tales with similar premises&mdash;the film &ldquo;The Island,&rdquo; for instance&mdash;that it felt unique. Worthy of telling.
The characters of Marty and Abby were well drawn, and for me kept the page turning. I wanted to know what would happen to them. (Tis a strength in Jill&rsquo;s other books too&mdash;great main characters.) There were a few of the side characters that seemed to disappear in the end, but that didn&rsquo;t hinder the story as a whole. I also wondered whether one of the main characters&rsquo; decisions was in character or not. But given the truly foreign nature of the situations, who really knows?
The dialog was good, and the spiritual aspect added a new flavor to the clone discussion. It raises some seriously interesting questions. Can we say that a clone was created by God, even though he is born in an unusual way? I really liked Marty&rsquo;s viewpoint. It felt genuine to me. I almost wish the author had gone even further, explored more of the questions this issue raises. Interesting stuff. Perhaps in a sequel?
Replication is a solid and compelling young adult novel that older readers will find enjoyable, as well. I recommend it.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I read it in two days.... couldnt put it down. This is great read!

ReenaJacobs

More than 1 year ago

This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley Replication had two story lines. The first centered around Abbey, a gal who&rsquo;s moved into a new school from DC to AK after her father landed a new job. I have to say, I wasn&rsquo;t at all impressed with this portion of the novel. Abbey came off as snobby and a goody-goody. I&rsquo;m not quite sure what her problem was. I will say her attitude did nothing for the storyline. When she wasn&rsquo;t snubbing those she&rsquo;d labeled beneath her, she spent the rest of her time reading. Now I&rsquo;m all for reading&hellip; I&rsquo;m a big reader myself. But I don&rsquo;t want to read about someone else reading. I want to read about people doing interesting things. So looking through my notes, I didn&rsquo;t have a lot of nice things to say about Abbey. In truth, Abbey had quite a lot of potential for growth. Unfortunately, her growth came as a verbal proclamation rather than showing she truly changed. The second storyline was related to the Jason Experiment with Martyr being one of the Jasons. I very much enjoyed this portion of the book. The only gripe I had was Martyr seemed a little too perfect. He was altruistic to a flaw. Still, I kept coming back to the story to read what would happen next to him. I would love to read follow up stories to the Jason Experiment&hellip; see how Jason 3:3 faired as well as the other clones. Even though the clones seemed to be two dimensional characters (for instance 3:3&prime;s altruism), they were a fascinating bunch. This novel also had a Christian undertone. If God made humans with souls, did clones (made by man) have souls also? Hmm&hellip; Overall, this was a great novel. I truly cared about some of the characters. And like I said, I would love to learn more about their lives. 4/5 star read for me.

CAJ45

More than 1 year ago

I enjoyed Replication: The Jason Experiment a lot more than I was expecting. I was pulled into the mystery and the what if this really was happening. It makes you start thinking about that. I like all the characters and would love to read a follow-up book to this one. I will be checking out other books by Jill Williamson. Good book

Rick_Barry

More than 1 year ago

Don't you just love it when you start a book and absolutely MUST keep going back to it, even when you have other things to do? If so, add Replication to your reading list! Within these pages, author Jill Williamson takes an out-of-this-world premise for a story and plants it into the life of a totally believable 17-year-old girl. The result is an incredible tale that mingles sci-fi with real life in a such a way that you can actually believe these events happening and stunning the world when they hit the headlines. Novels come and go; you'll read many that you'll forget. But I suspect you'll never forget about Jason Farms and what grows there! An adventure that's definitely worth your time.

majibookshelf

More than 1 year ago

I don't even know how to start writing this review, because Replication was breath taking. At first, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I didn't quiet understand the synopsis, and I had no idea what it was talking about. I just started it, and it definitely welcomed me with many surprises. Jill Williamson created an amazing story that is about 1 of the 55 clones whose name is Martyr. All the clones have the same face, and are being fooled by the doctor's, thinking that their purpose in life is to protect the humans from a toxic. They all think they die at the age of 18, and are all prisoned in an underground lab that no one knows about. Just tell me, how can someone think of something as twisted and awesome as this?
At first, I thought the story might be a bit suffocating, but I'm glad Jill also included the other main protagonist, Abby Goyer. Abby Goyer is a normal teenage girl, who suddenly has to move to Alaska with her father for his new job. While she think that he's working in a normal lab, her father gets his nose into some unethical business, which is the Jason Farms where the clones are located. The story starts to get really interesting when Martyr decides to get out of the farm, just to see the sky before he dies.
The characters are all very well described, and I just loved how Martyr's and Abby's relationship developed. Martyr's character felt very realistic to me. He was this innocent 17 year old boy who questioned everything he saw, which made me squeal at his adorable questions sometimes. The story kept me turning pages, and it was filled with intensity. Definitely a book I would recommend to everyone out there!

ShelleyLiz

More than 1 year ago

Some, including myself, would like to pretend that cloning is just an idea thought up in science fiction to show the pros and cons of man playing God. The idea of cloning a human being is no longer a matter of how it can be done, but when. Replication explores the desire of man to create a carbon copy of himself, but what develops from there is beyond his understanding. Martyr is just another clone, a Jason 3:3 living at a secret lab known only as Jason&rsquo;s Farm, and he&rsquo;s about to expire. Though he cowers to the abusive discipline readily given, it doesn&rsquo;t stop him from knowing right and wrong and trying to protect those of the Jason&rsquo;s (fellow clones) that are weaker than he. Martyr hungers for knowledge which keeps his curiosity ever reaching for the next experience, so much so that his desire to see the sky before he dies causes him to throw caution to the side and risk everything. He discovers a world that isn&rsquo;t dying, but very much a live, full of color and nothing like he was told.
Martyr finds an ally in the strangest of places, a daughter of one of the scientists that works at the Farm. At first Abby Goyer doesn&rsquo;t believe Martyr to be who he says he is, because he looks exactly like a hormone crazed boy from school with his own connections to the Farm. She quickly puts the pieces together and finds herself fighting for a cause--to take down the Farm and bring the scientists behind the cloning to justice. Her strength lies in her faith in God, knowing right and wrong. She feels more in control looking at life in black and white--pros and cons. Abby is surprised to meet a clone who not only has a mind of his own, but is curious to know more about the God. Can something that is synthetically made have a soul&hellip;a desire to seek God&rsquo;s love and accept his salvation. Can a clone be saved?
The amazing twist to this story is that no matter how life begins, free will and a desire for something more is always possible. Martyr discovers a strength he never new existed and Abby finds her world could use a little more gray area. She starts out to save Martyr from a fate worse than death only to learn something she didn&rsquo;t realize was lacking from her life&hellip;Mercy.
Replication is a great new twist on an old idea. Just when you think they get away, they are caught, and just when you think there&rsquo;s no hope, something happens to tip the scale. You have no idea how it will end until it finally does.

Evangeline_Han

More than 1 year ago

Fabulous. If there's one word to describe Replication, &quot;fabulous&quot; it would be. The story line, plot development, and characters were all fab. There wasn't a thing I didn't like about this book or found wanting. As a matter of fact, I've read and reread it three times! As I can't always find the time to reread due to my reading pile, this should go a long way to tell how much I liked Replication.
I was instantly drawn to the characters. I liked the way the point of views of Abby, Marty, and Dr. Goyer are given as I was able to read the thoughts of these three characters who play a prominent role throughout the novel. You can't help but like them, even Dr. Goyer. Although he doesn't have a clear record, you can know that he is kind and trying his best to do good even though his methods aren't always right.
Abby has a courageous personality. She wants to do what is right and her tenacity usually gives her success. Marty is my favorite character. He has this sweet innocence when he acts and talks. Sometimes, he might appear as vulnerable due to his former living conditions and exposure to the world, but he is really an intelligent guy with an ability to learn quickly.
The climax wasn't all hair-raising action, but the intrigue in it was enough to keep me captivated. I wondered many times if anyone would escape unscathed or not. I thought that the book ended too soon after the climax. I really hope there is a sequel to Replication because I want to read more about Abby and Marty! Good character development always gives a book its edge, and the development of the Abby and Marty characters were pretty good.
Reading Replication reminded me of the time, years ago, when I watched a movie about clones. The movie had portrayed clones as scary beings with unnaturally white skin tone and open eyes in incubators. I like the different message that Replication carries about clones. It is not right to own a clone and clones (if they exist, which I strongly doubt in case you're wondering) are humans, too. Cloning is not ethically nor morally right. Embracing your purpose in life is also a predominant theme in the story. Of course, all these values and teachings are based on the Bible and it's great to read a book reinforcing them.

Stephanie_Morrill

More than 1 year ago

I had never read a book about cloning and had no idea what to expect, but I love Jill Williamson's fantasy series and was eager to read this. I expected it to be full of adventure - which it was - but I was caught off guard by the sweetness of the story. I really loved Martyr's world view. His character tugged my heart strings. Abby is a wonderful heroine, feisty and tough, but also big hearted. I loved how she cared for Martyr. I finished this book satisfied, but the characters have stuck with me and I can't help hoping for a sequel.

Bookshelf_Confessions

More than 1 year ago

&ldquo;Life isn&rsquo;t how many days I live, but how I live the days I have&rdquo;
&ldquo;Listen, Dad, you spent your marriage trying to find a cure for Mom and you missed out on what little life she had. You took her joy, Dad, and yours, trying to save her&rdquo;--- &ldquo;Now you work for more people with that same philosophy. They want to take the lives of others because of their fear. They don&rsquo;t understand, so they try to find a way to control things. But God will always get His way. No scientist can change that. The only way to really live is to give up fear and trust God.&rdquo;
This is one excerpt that made me pause and realize life deeper.
Replication is a book about human cloning and how inhuman it could be. Giving life to someone just to kill them someday for other&rsquo;s benefit is strictly not a good thing.
When I was younger :), I heard about animal cloning and the sheep clone Dolly. At that time, I heard too about the issue of human cloning, and I was in favor of it. But after reading this book, I realize that life could only be given and taken by God. No man should try to control it. I realize that even though, let&rsquo;s just say human cloning exist, clones breath, they have lives and so, they&rsquo;re not as far to being human no matter what reasoning any scientist could give.
Jill Williamson weaved another wonderful story of a clone- Martyr/J:3:3, who found out, what his purpose really is. What God&rsquo;s purpose for him is. It&rsquo;s a journey and an adventure to grow closer to God and to help his fellow clones escape the fate the scientists thrust into them.
I was grip right from the beginning until the very end. Sci-fi this might be, but I didn&rsquo;t feel the heavy terms of science this kind of book usually has. Replication is very understandable and engaging. There&rsquo;s no boring part of the book, every turn of the page, something unexpected happens.
The best part I love in this book, are the subtle inspiring messages about love, life and God. I also love all of the characters, whether villain or not. Williamson has this technique of turning a supposedly evil man into someone a reader could sympathize. And of course, the main characters are lovable and have their own unique personalities.
Replication is a book I&rsquo;d give up a night of sleep for. I laugh, cried and feel for the characters all throughout the end. A real page-turner, this action-packed book would leave you breathless and blessed!
I&rsquo;m not so into sci-fi books but REPLICATION is another one of this genre that made me love sci-fi more..:) Very Highly Recommended!

MaryRuthP

More than 1 year ago

I have to say, I loved this book. The characters were all remarkably well-developed - even Martyr, who naturally has some peculiarities from living in an underground laboratory his whole life. The plot was straightforward and clear-cut, another plus. (I occasionally get tired of plots with so many twists and turns that by the end you can't even remember what the initial point was.) The writing was very skillful, another huge plus.
In this story, the author dealt with the highly controversial issue of cloning with skill, honesty, and grace, which I found highly refreshing. She doesn't mince words, and she calls things what they are, which I admire, but she did it all without sounding in the least 'preachy' or militant about it.
One or two things that bothered me:
First, there were several kiss scenes between teenagers. They were nothing humongous or grossly over-the-top, just straightforward kisses, but they still bothered me, since both characters were Christians.
The only other thing is a pet-peeve annoyance for me, more than anything else. The character Abby - who has studied crime for years and should know better - lets herself get pushed around very easily by a guy from her school who follows her around uninvited and even ends up forcing his way into her house. Abby isn't happy about it, but she doesn't do anything about it. There were several instances in which she should have thrown the creep out of her house at knife-point and called the cops on him, but she did nothing. It made me highly irritated at her.
Aside from those two little issues, though, I really, really enjoyed this book. I honestly couldn't put it down - and it takes a special book to captivate me that completely. I wouldn't recommend this book for younger readers, certainly. But for anyone 16 and up, this would make a fantastic read. I definitely recommend that you check it out at the first opportunity you get!

a-nonny-mouse

More than 1 year ago

Back Blurb:
MARTYR--otherwise known as Jason 3:3--is one of many clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to "expire" in less that a month. To see the sky.
Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has the feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars.
As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures--the one for which he was produced, and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he's ever known.
WHEN YOUR LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN
My Review:
I really enjoyed (no, LOVED) Jill Williamson's book 'By Darkness Hid' so when I got the chance to review her book in my favorite genre (Science Fiction, btw) I was so happy! This book ROCKED! Follow Martyr a.k.a. Jason 3:3 and Abby Goyer as they try to thwart the evil scientists from creating (and killing) a whole race of clones made for one purpose. The Purpose? I can't tell you that. I give away to much. ;) But I will say this-you will NOT be disappointed. If you are a HUGE Sci-fi fan (like me) definitely check this book out! Jill Williamson is an AWESOME writer!!! (I hope there's a sequel...)
~B

Melanie_Dickerson

More than 1 year ago

Replication is a great story, full of exciting and dramatic twists. If you like suspenseful, meaningful stories, you will love this one.
Abby Goyer is a high school student who is dealing with the death of her mother and also with the fact that her father has been involved in some unethical research practices at work. Now that he's moved them to Alaska, things really get weird. Especially when she discovers a kid who looks exactly like the creepy jock at her school. And then she finds out that he's a clone from a nearby lab, and there are many more of them. Why are the scientists creating these clones?
I love the brilliant way the author shows that your DNA doesn't determine how nice a person you are. Each person chooses for him or herself whether to do the right thing, to be kind and compassionate or to be cruel and selfish. It was also really fascinating the way she explored what it would be like for a person to grow up without ever seeing the outside world, never being exposed to colors or even people of the opposite sex--and never knowing about their Creator God. It's a really thought-provoking read and also very exciting and entertaining. I highly recommend it for both adults and teens.
And if you haven't seen the video trailers, search for them on YouTube. Just type in Replication: The Jason Experiment. Really great trailers!

JessicaLaurie

More than 1 year ago

Abby Goyer's life has been turned upside down. Her mom died a year ago, her dad is consumed with work and his grief, and her dad's new job has transferred them from Washington D.C. to Alaska. Talk about a change of scenery. But with the change in scenery comes new secrets. Dr. Goyer's job at a place called "Jason Farms" is top secret, and when Abby discovers a young man in her room named Martyr who claims he's a clone from the Jason Farms, well, things start to get alot more interesting. All his life, Martyr had been told by doctors that he and the other clones of the Jason Farms had one purpose to fulfill: to expire on their eighteenth birthday in order to save the people on the outside from the toxic air. But when Martyr sneaks outside to fulfill his wish of seeing the stars at least once before he dies, he discovers his life at the Jason Farms has been a lie, and his purpose may be something far different than he could have imagined. One thing I can always count on when I read a story by Jill Williamson (Christy award-winning author of the Blood of Kings trilogy) is that I'm going to fall in love with the characters. Replication is no different. Abby is a feisty yet vulnerable heroine with very human emotions and reactions to the people and circumstances around her. But it was Martyr that I wanted to wrap up and bring home with me. He was so sweet! His child-like innocence made me smile constantly, and his strength and leadership qualities reveal the man he is rapidly becoming. Parts of the story were hard to read because of circumstances that happen mentally and physically to some of the characters. I winced more than once. But these things show how dire the situations are and how high the stakes. The heart-pumping, fast-moving plot combined with the loveable characters make Replication a fun and thought-provoking read. I want a sequel just so I can visit with Martyr and Abby some more!

TheAddLibrarian

More than 1 year ago

I loved this but it needed to be longer! I wanted more dialogue between Abby & Martyr and more description of Alaska. (Hopefully a sequel is forthcoming) The interaction between Abby and her peers is the strongest part of this story. Abby immediately attracts the attention of JD, a rich, popular jock who is also smart. Oh no, triple threat! JD's problem is that he can't make up his mind whether to be a jerk or a likable guy. Abby doesn't want to write him off without reason, but she is determined not to be taken advantage of. It's refreshing to read about a girl who isn't just another victim. The contrast between JD and Martyr and how they treat Abby is very well done. I hope I haven't seen the last of the Jasons!

CherylSec

More than 1 year ago

In the book, Replication, Jill Williamson has created an intriguing storyline. What if someone succeeded in the cloning of human beings? What then? How would science and society deal with these copies of a person? The author takes this topic and puts a very "human" touch to it by giving a face and soul to the character of the clone. J:3:3 or Martyr is one of many human clones who live in a bland, underground world. He accepts his one purpose in life: "To be a sacrifice for those who live outside." His one wish is to see the sky before he expires at the age of eighteen. Abby Goyer, still recovering from the loss of her mother, is uprooted from the busy pace of Washington D.C. and relocated to Fishhook, Alaska. Her scientist father has accepted a job at a secret facility called Jason Farms. As Abby searches to find out more about Dr. Goyer's new position, it leads her into unbelievable discoveries. She meets Martyr and seeks to free him from this underground prison. Through meeting Abby, Martyr learns that God has a different and greater purpose for his existence. I really enjoyed Replication. The storyline is packed with adventure, suspense, and even romance. The characters are varied and have depth. It's a well written book that kept me turning the pages. I didn't want to put it down. A great read! I highly recommend it.

HollySmit

More than 1 year ago

Replication's finest achievement in my mind is the genuine believability of the heroine, Abby Goyer. She is fun, clever, quick-witted, mature, and a complete joy to be around, especially on an adventure. Williamson delves into human cloning and its ramifications with a professional and incisive touch. While the book is light on science and technique, it makes no mis-steps that I can see in putting forth a believable near-future scenario. The pace is quick with a nice mix of mystery, investigation, and outright action. The climax builds and builds and builds to a satisfying conclusion. The Alaskan setting was perfect for the plot and served like a character in its own right. Williamson's portrayals of each version of Jason are wonderfully unique, appropriate, and fleshed out. I couldn't help but root for Martyr as he learned to embrace the hero in himself that we all saw straight off. And last but not least, God is active in bending hearts to see His glory, and that is no small thing.
I highly recommend this book and would give it a 4.5 star rating if I could. The only reason it's not a 5 is that I didn't feel compelled to burn through the pages till the wee hours of the morning every time I picked it up. That said, the adventure was a joy to behold.

Regina_Linton

More than 1 year ago

I got the opportunity to review this book from Net Galley and instantly became enthralled in Martyr&rsquo;s life. He is such a charismatic person or clone as he is and is becoming more of his own human than they imagined that he would. Being the best candidate, J:3:3 also known as Martyr is very special.
When Martyr takes it upon himself to see the sky before he expires for the greater good, he risks his live to go to the outside only to find that it is nothing that he could have ever imagined it to be. Martyr takes a journey into the world that he was not meant to experience. There, he meets Abby. When Abby first comes into contact with Martyr, she is thrown because of his resemblance to the high school hunk that has been hitting on her, J.D. Kane.
It amazes Abby how different Martyr is from J.D. Besides both being incredibly adorable, that is where the similarities end. Martyr is sensitive, kind, and gentle while J.D. is pushy, arrogant and mostly a jerk. It is hard for Abby to let Martyr go once she has decided to help him find a new purpose.
Both Abby and Martyr risk their lives to do the right thing and pray that they end up together. This book is highly recommended for YA lovers of a dystopian/Sci-Fy nature.